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During union talks, Disney not always the happiest place
Both sides gear up for months of talks that start today.
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 22, 2007
Walt Disney World and unions representing 21,000 workers begin new contract negotiations today hoping to avoid the long battle they waged last time -- yet knowing a new dispute may have emerged involving how the company transfers jobs to outside contractors.
The labor talks involve Disney World and a cooperative of six locals called the Service Trades Council Union that represents full-time workers ranging from hotel maids and ride attendants to stage technicians and costumed characters. The sides headed into the talks saying little but expressing the usual hope for easy and satisfying bargaining.
However, any similar hopes were harshly dashed the last time the two sides sought a deal three years ago. Disputes, primarily over health-care benefits and wages, forced a sometimes-hostile, eight-month argument before that contract was approved -- and approved grudgingly by some of the locals.
That 120-page 2004 deal expires April 28. The 2007 negotiations are structured and scheduled to take months, as Disney and the six unions first seek special arrangements for each local, then turn attention to an overall pact.
"Our goal is a working contract by the time this one expires," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty.
Private-contractor tiffs
This round of talks comes soon after union frustration heated up late last year regarding Disney's efforts to get private contractors to take over some work at Disney World and some hotels.
In the past 15 or 16 months, Disney World has transferred nearly 600 jobs, involving some hotel maids, park custodians, valet, bell-service and baggage-handling workers, and production technicians. To date the moves have eliminated only about 1 percent of Disney World's nearly 60,000 jobs, and the company insisted that all its affected employees were offered other Disney World jobs at comparable pay.
But the unions voiced anger and fear that the trend could continue and accelerate under the current contract's terms. Late last year, the Service Trades Council pursued a federal complaint about the issue and picketed Disney's northern entrance.
The council's Web page now features an artist's parody of Disney Parks' "Where Dreams Come True" logo. The union's version features the slogan, "Hey Mickey . . . WHAT ABOUT MY DREAMS?"
Disney, meanwhile, has vigorously defended the outsourcing moves as fiscally responsible, fair and important for quality customer service. It has dismissed any notion that a trend is under way, yet maintained that the company needs to keep the option for future subcontracting if necessary.
"We need to keep our options open. We're going to continue to optimize the use of our cast members. Sometimes that might mean working with outside partners," Prunty said. "We understand that our cast would have concerns."
Several possible hurdles
As in 2004, health benefits and wages remain as potential sticking points, along with pension benefits and work scheduling, representatives of both sides predicted.
"We think this is a good time for Walt Disney World to address the needs of the employees in this area. Attendance has been up. New attractions and new shows have been opening. Corporate profits are up 42 percent in the last two years, and cast members are working hard, and are proud of the work they are doing," said Service Trades Council President Morty Miller. "We're hopeful about the company being realistic about negotiating a fair contract for the employees we represent."
The Service Trades Council also recently raised concerns, through a formal complaint to the National Labor Relations Board, about how Disney World sometimes schedules workers to keep up with the parks' seven-day workweek, numerous 24-hour operations and big seasonal swings in business.
The Service Trades Council represents six unions: UNITE HERE 362; International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 385; International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees 631Transportation and Communication International Union 1908; UNITEHERE 737; and United Food and Commercial Workers 1625.
Approximately 8,000 part-time employees represented by the Service Trades Council work under a separate contact that expires in September. An additional 7,000 Disney World workers, ranging from carpenters and painters to security guards and phone operators, belong to other unions. About 60 percent of Disney workers belong to unions, though the number can vary depending on job needs.
The most recent labor negotiations at Disney World, last winter between the company and 300 members of the Central Florida Musicians Association, went smoothly, on schedule and satisfactorily, both sides said.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
Both sides gear up for months of talks that start today.
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 22, 2007
Walt Disney World and unions representing 21,000 workers begin new contract negotiations today hoping to avoid the long battle they waged last time -- yet knowing a new dispute may have emerged involving how the company transfers jobs to outside contractors.
The labor talks involve Disney World and a cooperative of six locals called the Service Trades Council Union that represents full-time workers ranging from hotel maids and ride attendants to stage technicians and costumed characters. The sides headed into the talks saying little but expressing the usual hope for easy and satisfying bargaining.
However, any similar hopes were harshly dashed the last time the two sides sought a deal three years ago. Disputes, primarily over health-care benefits and wages, forced a sometimes-hostile, eight-month argument before that contract was approved -- and approved grudgingly by some of the locals.
That 120-page 2004 deal expires April 28. The 2007 negotiations are structured and scheduled to take months, as Disney and the six unions first seek special arrangements for each local, then turn attention to an overall pact.
"Our goal is a working contract by the time this one expires," said Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty.
Private-contractor tiffs
This round of talks comes soon after union frustration heated up late last year regarding Disney's efforts to get private contractors to take over some work at Disney World and some hotels.
In the past 15 or 16 months, Disney World has transferred nearly 600 jobs, involving some hotel maids, park custodians, valet, bell-service and baggage-handling workers, and production technicians. To date the moves have eliminated only about 1 percent of Disney World's nearly 60,000 jobs, and the company insisted that all its affected employees were offered other Disney World jobs at comparable pay.
But the unions voiced anger and fear that the trend could continue and accelerate under the current contract's terms. Late last year, the Service Trades Council pursued a federal complaint about the issue and picketed Disney's northern entrance.
The council's Web page now features an artist's parody of Disney Parks' "Where Dreams Come True" logo. The union's version features the slogan, "Hey Mickey . . . WHAT ABOUT MY DREAMS?"
Disney, meanwhile, has vigorously defended the outsourcing moves as fiscally responsible, fair and important for quality customer service. It has dismissed any notion that a trend is under way, yet maintained that the company needs to keep the option for future subcontracting if necessary.
"We need to keep our options open. We're going to continue to optimize the use of our cast members. Sometimes that might mean working with outside partners," Prunty said. "We understand that our cast would have concerns."
Several possible hurdles
As in 2004, health benefits and wages remain as potential sticking points, along with pension benefits and work scheduling, representatives of both sides predicted.
"We think this is a good time for Walt Disney World to address the needs of the employees in this area. Attendance has been up. New attractions and new shows have been opening. Corporate profits are up 42 percent in the last two years, and cast members are working hard, and are proud of the work they are doing," said Service Trades Council President Morty Miller. "We're hopeful about the company being realistic about negotiating a fair contract for the employees we represent."
The Service Trades Council also recently raised concerns, through a formal complaint to the National Labor Relations Board, about how Disney World sometimes schedules workers to keep up with the parks' seven-day workweek, numerous 24-hour operations and big seasonal swings in business.
The Service Trades Council represents six unions: UNITE HERE 362; International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 385; International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees 631Transportation and Communication International Union 1908; UNITEHERE 737; and United Food and Commercial Workers 1625.
Approximately 8,000 part-time employees represented by the Service Trades Council work under a separate contact that expires in September. An additional 7,000 Disney World workers, ranging from carpenters and painters to security guards and phone operators, belong to other unions. About 60 percent of Disney workers belong to unions, though the number can vary depending on job needs.
The most recent labor negotiations at Disney World, last winter between the company and 300 members of the Central Florida Musicians Association, went smoothly, on schedule and satisfactorily, both sides said.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
